Seeds left from last year. What to try and what to chuck?

  • 10 Replies
  • 3738 Views
*

adri

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Peak District...
  • 213
    • peak hives
I must have half a million (slight exageration) Lettuce seeds left over.  Tons of other stuff too.  It's been kept quite well but I don't know whether to try any of them at all or just send off for new.

I'll probably do both but don't want to waste either viable seed or precious time sowing something that won't germinate...

Any tips?
Peak Hives

*

surbie100

  • Winner Prettiest Pumpkin - 2014
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: London
  • 4675
Re: Seeds left from last year. What to try and what to chuck?
« Reply #1 on: January 06, 2015, 22:05 »
I'd chit them if you're in doubt. It's quicker and you can see what is viable and what isn't. I've had 3-year old parsnip seed germinate, just not all of it.

*

adri

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Peak District...
  • 213
    • peak hives
Re: Seeds left from last year. What to try and what to chuck?
« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2015, 22:21 »
You mean soak on kitchen roll?  Can that be done for all seeds?

*

surbie100

  • Winner Prettiest Pumpkin - 2014
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: London
  • 4675
Re: Seeds left from last year. What to try and what to chuck?
« Reply #3 on: January 06, 2015, 22:48 »
As far as I know, yes. I have pre-soaked bigger seeds like peas and beans for a few hours to speed things up a bit, but that's not probably necessary.

*

mumofstig

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Kent
  • 57877
Re: Seeds left from last year. What to try and what to chuck?
« Reply #4 on: January 06, 2015, 23:37 »
I had a pkt of Seeds of Italy lettuce that lasted 5 years, and they were still worth sowing till the packet was empty.
You'll be surprised how long some last, and still grow.
You may just have to sow a few more, to allow for the duds, than when the seeds were new.

After all...............I years seeds = 7 years weeds (at least)

I watched a programme where the farmer deeply ploughed a field edge and corncockle grew - which hadn't been recorded as an arable weed since the 1950s.
That's how long seeds can live.

*

JayG

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: South West Sheffield
  • 16722
Re: Seeds left from last year. What to try and what to chuck?
« Reply #5 on: January 07, 2015, 08:38 »
I've found that parsnip, F1 sweetcorn, and onion seeds are the least reliable after the first year, and of those parsnips are the ones I'd least likely take a risk with as they are slow to germinate outdoors at the best of times, although they should chit indoors on damp kitchen paper in about a week in warm conditions, and I have got 'acceptable' germination in year 2.

Runner bean seeds are quite long lived, but the white ones seem much more prone to rotting than the darker ones, whether sowing or chitting them, so be careful with any soaking.

If stored in 'perfect' conditions, i.e. dry and cool with as little temperature variation as possible, most seeds will remain viable for considerably longer than their 'sow by' dates suggest, but be wary of seeds you bought from a glasshouse-type GC which may have been sat roasting in the sun for months before you even bought them.
Sow your seeds, plant your plants. What's the difference? A couple of weeks or more when answering possible queries!

One of the best things about being an orang-utan is the fact that you don't lose your good looks as you get older

*

sunshineband

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Reading, Berkshire
  • 32056
  • Tallest Sunflower prizewinner 2014
    • A Little Bit of Sunshine
Re: Seeds left from last year. What to try and what to chuck?
« Reply #6 on: January 07, 2015, 09:50 »
If you have more lettuce seeds than you will ever need lettuce plants, you can close sow them in a tray of compost to use as baby salad leaves. If germination is not 100%, then sowing close makes up for this.

This time in the year it helps stave off itchy fingers too :lol:
Wisdom is knowing what to ignore - be comfortable in your own skin.
My Blog
My Diary
My Diary Comments

*

Yorkshire Lass

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Selby, North Yorkshire
  • 254
Re: Seeds left from last year. What to try and what to chuck?
« Reply #7 on: January 09, 2015, 19:17 »
I always try everything as I hate throwing things away, ok so chitting is the easiest way to see what is happening.  However sometimes I get lucky and seeds I think are past it do really well. :D

*

Goosegirl

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Caton, Lancaster.
  • 8945
Re: Seeds left from last year. What to try and what to chuck?
« Reply #8 on: January 10, 2015, 10:47 »
It's a bit like "best before" dates for food. As long as they have been stored in a cool dry place indoors then many seeds can remain viable for a few years, though the germination rate will drop as time goes on.
I work very hard so don't expect me to think as well.

*

Kristen

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Suffolk
  • 4065
    • K's Garden blog
Re: Seeds left from last year. What to try and what to chuck?
« Reply #9 on: January 10, 2015, 11:50 »
germination rate will drop as time goes on.
I find that the vigour of the resultant plants, grow form "old" seed, is sometimes reduced too (i.e. the whole batch of seedlings, not just "some")

*

Potty Plotty Lotty

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Nottingham
  • 1102
    • https://thelazyallotmenteer.wordpress.com/
Re: Seeds left from last year. What to try and what to chuck?
« Reply #10 on: January 10, 2015, 13:26 »
Other than Parsnips and Sweetcorn as mentioned earlier I use everything until the packet runs out. Last year I noticed that some tomato seeds were producing varying quality plants-some vigorous, others not so-I have bought new ones this year.

Seeds are kept in a box in the utility room, folded over or sealed if they are in zip lock bags.

Never had any problems with this approach and save £££££s.



xx
Old seeds - Chuck or try?

Started by Mazzie on Grow Your Own

15 Replies
2835 Views
Last post March 19, 2011, 10:36
by missmenace
xx
seeds left...

Started by Lily on Grow Your Own

3 Replies
1746 Views
Last post April 21, 2007, 08:08
by WG.
xx
left over seeds

Started by pawsnclaws on Grow Your Own

2 Replies
1507 Views
Last post August 18, 2009, 12:44
by Stevens706
xx
SEEDS FOR NEXT YEAR

Started by Glastonbury 10 on Grow Your Own

6 Replies
2495 Views
Last post August 06, 2006, 16:35
by Glastonbury 10
 

Page created in 0.324 seconds with 40 queries.

Powered by SMFPacks Social Login Mod
Powered by SMFPacks SEO Pro Mod |